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Kengan Omega Chapter 137 Review (No Spoilers)

THIS! CHAPTER! WAS...No spoilers!

Ohma and Rolon are in the endgame now and this chapter sees an insane exchange of ideologies. The idea of the man who has practiced 1000 techniques 1 time versus the man who has practiced 1 technique 1000 times. Of course both of these fighters have practiced far more than than that but it feels pretty apt.

They pull out all the stops here. By they I mean the characters and the author as well as artist. We get a flashback for one of them looking at how they feel stagnant in terms of their techniques but also how that may be a strength for them

(No rasengans here! Just fists!!!!!)

No real progress to any sub stories though as Raian is still MIA and the other, “Niko” is still walking around and also that assassination attempt...what is going on with that. It feels like this chapter is just the start of what is to come next and it can bode either ill or well for those in its sights.

The combat in this was well done. You got to see some real world techniques and differences in martial arts theories for the same technique, like how a karate straight punch and a boxing straight punch have a different idea of how to execute that move.

(Calling it now, Koga is going to be a future monster.)

The Author also keeps setting up Koga to have insight and observational skills of a fighter above his current capabilities. Where others can not keep up with the action in the ring he can not only keep up but also breakdown what is happening. For a fighter in real life or in fantasy, that ability is invaluable and Koga has done it throughout the series let alone the tournament.

This is a nice way to keep him in the position of a protagonist and setting up his eventual growth down the line. He has grown as is but this feels like foreshadowing for coming arcs or a time skip. It feels organic for him as far as him not really being a ‘prodigy’,having to have his techniques catch up to his innate observational skills. For now he serves as a narrator of sorts for the readers to understand the techniques going on that we can not see and I am fine with that!

Bottom Line:

Get it! Read it!

Pros:

Amazing action and Art!

Technique breakdowns!

Koga keeps being foreshadowed to become a future beast!

Cons:

No sign of other substories...for now.

#kengan omega #kengan #kengan ashura #action #manga #martial arts #koga #tokita #tokita ohma #ohma #rolon #rolon donaire #review #honest review #honest

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Kengan Omega Chapter 136 Review (No Spoilers)

This chapter was just full on action as Ohma and Rolon look to get the upperhand. No other substories feature in this chapter. Just the two captains of their teams looking to secure the win that seals the fate of both organizations. As such there is not a whole lot to talk about here in terms of story besides Rolon is insanely strong and Ohma is a beast.

(Think I was kidding about him being a beast?)

The art was fantastic as always and the action that it portrays is excellent. The beauty of this series is that while it slips into the fantastical realm of special moves that can border on impossible it just as often keeps itself grounded.

(Rolon is easily one of the cooler characters in purgatory.)

In one instance you will see someone fix an arm that is clearly broken by...magical technique. In the other instance you will see some amazing references to judo techniques. Back to the chapter though. Both fighters seem to be well matched as it feels like a more equal exchange than a few of the past chapters. The problem however is that someone has to lose.

Bottom Line:

This is another great chapter with no real need for a pros or cons. If you like action and fantastical techniques yet grounded combat, this chapter is for you.

#kengan #kengan omega #ohma #rolon #fight #action #manga #martial arts #review #honest review #tokita #tokita ohma #rolon donaire #kengan ashura

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Kengan Omega Chapter 135 Review (No Spoilers)

This chapter for me was amazing! I was tempted to say it was HEAT but to say that would be...I said it didn’t I? Well I am not lying. This chapter was top notch in both world building and action.

We get to see a bit more of Rolon’s past and a young Kuroki Gensai who looks like a cross between Akuma and rockband drummer. This further makes me worried that the author may have Ohma lose because if Rolon loses here is he still worthy of the rematch with Gensai? Gensai after all is the SEEMINGLY strongest fighter in the Kengan Association right now.

(Die one hundred drum solos!!!!)

The chapter mulls over if Ohma has a shot by showing that Raian has also defeated him a number of times. However there is a huge BUT at the end of that. Ohma has steadily closed the gap on Raian in their matches and lost fewer matches to the Kure monster. It should also be mentioned that they question of Raian could be Rolon and that has me wondering about something.

Raian went off on his own to get revenge against someone quite a while ago. I wonder how he is doing because I have a feeling the author is going to for a shock moment. I said Gensai was seemingly the strongest member of the Kengan Association fighters but one has to remember that Raian held back ALOT in the tourney and it makes wonder who would win between him and Gensai if they both went all out.

(Ohma throwing them hands baby!)

The chapter however focuses on Ohma and Rolon with both trying to get the upper hand on the other. Ohma pulls off a nice trick to get the advantage but this is Rolon we are talking about and he is not one to be taken even remotely lightly. Dude looks plain as paper but he is seems able to adapt to anything and anyone. That is not a fighter you want to face in real life, let alone in the fantasy world of manga.

The author has done a nice job setting Rolon up as a huge hurdle for Ohma to overcome and leaving doubts on whether he can win or not. Of course I want Ohma to win but it also makes me wonder how will the manga move on if he is to lose this match. This is the final official fight in the tournament. If Ohma loses here, Purgatory wins and the Kengan Association is absorbed. With this chapter left on a cliffhanger I await the next one to see just what else will happen.

Bottom Line:

(Rolon throwing them...Ohmas?)

This is easily a must read. There is very little else to say here except to say to go read this chapter. No pros or cons. Just go read this chapter already.

#kengan #kengan ashura #kengan omega #tokita #tokita ohma #rolon #rolon donaire #Kuroki gensai #action #manga #comic #fight #akuma #martial arts #review #honest review

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Just going to leave this right here. No commentary, just enjoy the trailer!

#spider-man #Marvel Comics #marvel #marvel cinematic universe #spiderman #spiderman no way home #spider-man no way home #zendaya #tom holland #comics #stan lee #peter parker #jamie foxx #alfred molina #doctor octavius #doctor strange #benedict cumberbatch #william dafoe #green goblin #sandman

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Eternals: Taking a look at some of the themes (Spoilers)

The Eternals movie is an enjoyable piece of media for me. It is not perfect but it is something I think raises some good questions. When people say that comic book, movies can’t have deeper meanings, I wonder if they have ever checked out the comics they are based on like Civil War, The Boys or the Eternals series itself. Let me explain.

Antibody or Cancer? Heroes or Destroyers? Good or bad?

“...they wholeheartedly believe in their mission to protect humanity and becoming disillusioned by their true purpose as it is revealed...”

The Eternals gives us the idea of the impact a foreign entity’s presence can have on an indigenous people. Would the latter be the same if the entity was not there? Is the foreign entity an antibody or a cancer in the grand scheme of things? We have seen the story of the savior from another planet a few times, the most common being DC’s Superman.

(What would humanity have been like without the Eternals?)

In recent times we have seen this changed quite a bit to show that the benevolent savior can in fact be the opposite, having tricked all around them, such as Invicinble’s Viltrumite civilization. This is not so much the case in the Eternals movie. They, the Eternals wholeheartedly believe in their mission to protect humanity and becoming disillusioned by their true purpose once it is revealed as much as the audience is while watching the film.

To realize they are not the heroic saviors of the galaxy but in fact have damned countless planets is a shock to the system. What would have happened if they had not interfered in the lives of these people? Would it have been better or worse? Would they still exist if not for their superficial demise?

Loyalty or Rebellion?

“It begs the question, can we commit whatever atrocity is asked of us, once it is an order?”

This then sprouts the next question of duty. Is their duty to their leader, not Ajak but Arishem?Do they carry out their given purpose or rebel against it for what they believe is correct? The needs of the many versus the needs of the few? Immediate Gratifcation of saving a planet or the delayed gratification of possibly birthing other worlds by dooming one?

(Is he wrong or right for his actions in the final act of the movie?)

Ikaris embodies the ‘perfect’ soldier, loyal to the cause and willing to commit whatever it takes to complete the mission, even if that means killing his team to do so. A nice parallel to Peacemaker from The Suicide Squad movie for me at least and how his loyalty to the mission led him to commit acts that costed him his teammates but could possibly save billions of lives at the cost of a island nation’s people.

Ikaris has no connections to the world around him and sees it as alien thus his only real connection is to the mission which is to birth a Celestial from the core of the planet. Knowing that their memories will be wiped after the mission, Ikaris perhaps can live with committing an act he will soon forget. It begs the question, can we commit whatever atrocity is asked of us, once it is an order? Are we less responsible for the act if it is not our idea and thus can put the responsibility on to another?

On the other hand Sersi, Phastos and Kingo have connections to the world unlike several of the others and exhibit an ability to not to just choose whether they follow orders or not but flat out rebel against it. Sersi has a career, and a lover, much like Phastos who goes one step further to have a family.

(Can the foreign entities be in turn affected by those they also affect?)

They have connections to the planet and come to empathize with it much like Superman does but on a deeper level for me, much like Omni-Man. He comes to earth to conquer it but finds himself changed for the better by those around him and feels remorse for the acts he committed in the past despite them having been orders becoming a true paragon of justice that he once pretended to be.

Kingo is unique in that he has a connection to the planet but sides with Ikaris showing a divide between his mission and the world he has come to love. It was a bit of a subversion that I wish was explored more through the lighthearted Eternal with his own human assistant being willing to toss all his earthly possessions away for a ‘higher purpose’.

Sadly that is not what quite happens as he simply exits the movie to avoid the conflict unable to bring himself to attack his friends in order to complete said mission. He is however unwilling to protect the planet from what he sees as a needed course of action for the betterment of the universe.

Freewill versus Imposed peace?

“...Is peace by the removal of free, will truly peace?”

Can the ends justify the means? Killing billions to give birth to possible hundreds of billions. This is also shown in another character. in terms of doing something that maybe seen as wrong with good intentions.

(If you could end suffering by taking away freewill, would you?)

Druig is a complex character. He wants to protect people but seeing as they can not protect themselves from their darker nature, he does what he feels is right to remedy this. The question is then asked, is peace by the removal of the free will, truly peace? Of course there are no wars but what else is this restriction causing? This censorship of ideas is truly a fine line to walk.

Trying to filter out all the evil in hopes of only leaving good may in turn, stifle the progress of the people around him. Druig’s forced peace upon humans can never be truly satisfying as he knows that they have not accomplished it themselves and if he leaves, there is every chance they will return to their ways, having truly learned nothing.

He is not willing to let them make mistakes as he sees that one mistake as the be all and end all instead of something that can be learned from and help humans in turn truly find a path to peace on their own in a more organic way.

Bottom Line:

(What other themes does the movie hold?)

It is things like this that make me enjoy The Eternals because as I have admitted it is a flawed film but it is still a good to great movie as it makes you ask questions that can reflect the reality we live in. There is more I wanted to say in terms of themes but would need a further viewing to truly do so. Hopefully this helps you see that even if it is only the tip of the iceberg or shallow, the Eternals does have some themes that can truly make you enjoy it even more. Or at least enjoy the attempt.

#the eternals #chloe zhao #ikaris #sersi #kingo #phastos #ajak #jack kirby #eternals #marvel #Marvel Comics #comics #mcu #marvel cinematic universe #the boys #the suicide squad #Suicide Squad #peacemaker #brian tyree henry #kit harington

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Dragon Ball: The Breakers

(Here comes a new challenger?)

With a franchise known for its hand to hand combat between godlike beings is this new project a refreshing change to the formula? Anyone of the online survival pvp games may get a familiar feel from this trailer as the only super powered combatant is the antagonist, Cell, known as the raider.

The survivors are all quite ordinary beings...for the Dragon Ball universe anyway. We see Bulma and Oolong along with what seems like custom or at least unique player characters trying to outwit cell. Because I have no idea how they can fight cell or escape someone who can sense people but then again I have no idea how a pig can talk and he is in the franchise so carry on.

(Hmm...this is not going to end well.)

There are some stealth like elements involved with oolong’s character particularly but most of the gameplay looks like trying to run away from the Raider however you can. Because I have no idea how they can fight cell or escape someone who can sense people but then again I have no idea how a pig can talk and he is in the franchise.

A variety of items will be at your disposal as a breaker so you may just survive, whether as a team or alone. Oh and there are also perks to help you even further in the game or to make your characters stand out regardless of if you are trying to survive or to get your villain on!

(This thing gets a mile per the soul...is this popo’s ship?)

This can be by getting into Future Trunk’s ship, a Saiyan ship or straight transforming into a plant and hoping the raider does not catch you before you can escape. We do however see what happens if he does manage to pull that off, a la android 17 and 18 absorption.

The graphics are not super stellar and I do question what are the future plans for the game such as content, like new raiders as so far we have been given Ceel in trailer and freiza and buu still to come.

I am not knocking this at all because I like when companies try to do something different and always want that to succeed for a rather myopic franchise where genres are concerned, either fighting games or rpgs. So this could be a break out star! Let’s keep an eye on the breakers!

(Not the best hiding spot buddy.)

#Dragon Ball Z #dragon ball #dragon ball the breakers #the breakers #survival game #online #video game #cell #raider #xenoverse #DBZ #dbz bulma #bulma #oolong #dbz oolong #dbz xenoverse

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Shuumatsu No Valyrie: A bittersweet masterpiece?

It goes without saying that I like a good martial arts or action movie, manga, anime, comic or book. Anything that has some nice fights in it is probably going to get my attention. One manga that sparked my interest was Shuumatsu No Valkyrie or Record of Ragnarok as it is called in the west. This manga has some of the most beautiful art you will ever see to date, with a thoroughly engrossing but simple plot, capped off with unique characters. But let me show you how simple that story is.

The gods want to destroy humans but are forced into a tournament to decide the fate of the latter when Brunhilde, a valkyrie who seeks to seemingly protect humanity intervenes. She lays down a challenge! Humans versus gods in fights to the death. What ensues is a whirlwind of nail biting fights with huge stakes as every loss puts one side either closer to relenting on their will to destroy the other or for said other to be annihilated. And from there, no punches are pulled by the authors, Fukui Takumi, Umemura Shinya and Ajichika or the story’s combatants.

(All of these fights were insane but do not get attached to any of the fighters.)

That sets the tone for the series. As amazing as the characters are, and believe me, they all are pretty amazing, this is a gladiator type of series. Two fighters enter and one leaves. It is a tournament arc but akin to Mortal Kombat as if you lose, you die as well as the idea of one side possibly losing their way of life if the other wins but in this case that is just losing their lives all together. There is no mercy here, despite the sometimes comedic tones the characters can have. Every fight so far has had a death of one of the fighters, whether human or god.

Now you may think that humans versus gods sounds like a mismatch but the authors make sure that the former are insanely strong to the point that superhuman is an understatement. It should also be added that the characters are technically being pulled from death so they are actually dead humans coming back to life but still, seeing them possibly die is nonetheless harsh. Ever more amplified by the inclusion of a technique that grants them power boosts when a Valkyrie pairs with them. Which means if a human dies, so does the Valkyrie they were paired with. Yeah, the stakes are high!

(The list of fighters are history lesson all on its own.)

Also! This manga does not just make up random characters. No these are people from history and gods from lore or religion. Jesus shows up at one point, I kid you not. Not as a fighter mind you but the fact he is present is insane. You see characters such as Adam, the first man instead fighting or Jack the Ripper fighting in the manga! Yes Jack the Ripper! Heck Lu Bu shows up and throws some hands! Against THOR!!!! If you enjoy a nice look at legends and myths, this manga is easy to enjoy.

Fighters pull off techniques that would be impossible for any other human but themselves such a swordsman deflecting strikes that are near the speed of light or another human so strong that his body needs special limiters or he will grow to insane proportions. But even then, it is not enough sometimes.

(4 versus 1...seems fair.)

Several human fighters have died in pretty depressing ways with one of my favorite characters literally being decapitated in front of his parents after losing. I legitimately have shed tears for most of the dead fighters, maybe except two but that is because he went out so manly that tears might have been a disservice to him. And all the characters have gone out pretty manly but his was just a whole other level. The other characters was just a straight up villain.

But my favorite character’s death was further amplified by his mother’s wailing in the next chapter which crushed me even more than when he was killed. But that is beauty of this manga. It imposes on you that ever floating stake of humanity’s destruction. It brings you the highest of highs when humanity wins but then makes you question if the next fight will see a crushing defeat for them in return.

I read the first fight and was cheering for the action and loved every panel but when it got to the ending I was thoroughly reminded this was a fight to the death as one fighter was left headless and armless. That is an image that is just haunting. This is a manga where victory can be snatched away in an instant and what seems like a certain win is never that simple. Every blow that is exchanged could shape the history of the humans for either a long and prosperous one or a very short one.

(This chapter after the end one fight in particular was painful.)

Now what makes this even harder as a reader is that I like quite a few of the gods too. This is thanks to the authors’ backstories for each fighter. Everyone gets a deep dive analysis which makes you relate to them quite a bit. Even the vilest of villains on the human team somehow becomes sympathetic but so is the same for the most on innocent of gods on the other team.

There is really no way to explain except just turning things on their heads as you find yourself wondering if you should root for a murderer fighting for humanity or a heroic demigod fighting for the gods. It is a well crafted narrative that makes you worry for the fate of the fighters whether human or gods because a character you once hated can become quite a tragic figure, who you do not want to see die.

(No idea how, but I had sympathy for this character after the backstory given.)

Bottom Line:

(Loki pretty much said what I was thinking after that first fight.)

Would I recommend this manga? Yes. Highly. But I also put the disclaimer that if you do not enjoy knowing that no one is safe from death and that your favorite character could die then I would say give this a pass. I am personally dreading upcoming fights because there are characters there that I do not want to lose...like most of them but that is not the case as this manga shown.

This is a labor of love and you can see it in every detail and the time it takes for reach chapter to be released. It is a painful but refreshing read for anyone who wants to check it out.

Pros:

.Amazing story.

.Amazing Art.

.Amazing Characters.

.Tournament Arc!

.Nice mix of myths and history.

Cons:

.Getting attached can be a painful idea.

.Can be depressing

#record of ragnorak #shuumatsu no valkyrie #manga #review #highly recommend #recommend #comic #anime #loki #thor #hercules #heracles #adam #zeus

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Kengan Omega Ch 134 Review Spoiler Free

The chapter shows a little backstory of Rolon Donaire, who is one of the main characters of the series Tokita Ohma’s  opponent. They square off in the deciding match of the tournament and we get a flashback to Donaire doing what he seems to do best. Wreck people! It is not the longest flashback but you get the idea of what the authors, Sandrovich Yabako and Daromeon  were trying to show. This man is a problem.

(Kamaru Usman would be proud of how much of a problem this man is.)

But what would you expect from someone who went toe to toe with Kuroki Gensai and managed a draw? Gensai for comparison is possibly the strongest fighter in the Kengan Association if not the whole series.

Ohma and Rolon keep on going at it but seems like the former has the upper hand and is pushing that advantage over his more inexperienced opponent. Which is weird to say as it is Ohma who is a beast all on his own...but he lost to Gensai so this is looking like a tough fight to say the least. But tough for Ohma does not mean over!

(No idea who will win and that is fine by me! As long as it is Ohma.LOL)

Rolon is a badass and the author further cements that by showing us a bit of his past and he has one of the coolest lines in the whole chapter when he states, using his gun would be a waste...in a gun fight! Only in manga am I right?

This chapter is much more focused on the action in the ring instead of all the other sub plots going in the series right now, though they all seem to revolve around the Worm organization. A nice pace of action, story and motivations in this chapter with simple but enjoyable art to help you get into the fight quite easily.

Bottom Line:

I honestly think Ohma will win but the author can always through a curve ball and have Rolon win since he still has a rematch with Gensai to come possibly. But if Ohma loses that means Purgatory absorbs the Kengan Association. It also means Ohma would also lose his official return match and I don’t know if that would be a good look even if Rolon is on a whole other level. That to me is good writing when you start to wonder what the possibilities could be for possible outcomes. Highly recommend this chapter.

(Seriously, check out this manga!)

Pros:

.Rolon’s back story is revealed somewhat.

. Art is simple but nice to look at.

.Great fight! (Of course)

Cons:

.Chapter is just never long enough for how great this series is.

#kengan #kengan ashura #kengan omega #tokita #tokita ohma #rolon #rolon donaire #Kuroki gensai #martial arts #manga #martial arts manga #anime #review

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Mortal Kombat Battle of the Realms - An Honest and Unbiased Review

(By the Elder gods! Another bad movie!?!?)

I love Mortal Kombat. Let me say that again. I love Mortal Kombat. If there is one fighting game franchise I have grown up on and devoured its lore, it is Mortal Kombat. I owned several of the games, read the comics and the first live action movie is easily one of my guilty pleasure movies. The 2021 live action disappointed me but I had faith in the animated version. I had watched Scorpions revenge which while taking liberties with the source material was still enjoyable.

So I snuggled into my chair and got ready for the newest offering of Battle for the realms and let me tell you...I felt myself die a little on the inside. The movie is terrible. Not “Oh it’s bad but has some redeeming qualities” or “It’s so bad it is good.”. It is just bad. Let me explain!

The Characters:

(Hey at least the characters look...okay.)

Don’t get attached, because not only do some characters die, which is expected but some of them just get so little screen time you wonder why they were there. Jade and Kung Lao are two of my favorite characters and both are footnotes in the story of this film. Liu Kang is way better in this and gets his ‘Chosen One’ moment. Literally. Other characters get less importance than they did in the first animated film while Scorpion gets a whole subplot to himself that somehow ties into the rest of stories. No one besides Liu Kang and Shao Khan stood out. Oh and the Grand Master is in this. And he sucks. Wasted a ton of the cast for...

The Fights:

(Why yes, this movie was like a kick in the groin.)

Well tell me now, do you like fights that last 20 seconds or less? Then you will love 90% of this film’s fights. Do you like power scaling meaning nothing and characters getting so utterly annihilated that you wonder if the animators were taking some rage out on them while creating the scenes? This is the film for you. I have no problem with fights going quickly or being one sided to show strength but this film has quick fights for the majority of it, except for the ones that are one sided affairs and the loser gets the most brutal of fatalities. It is almost like...

The Story:

Story? A hodge podge of terrible decisions! Move on.

The...okay, we will discuss the story:

(Is it too late to be in a good movie?)

The story is a combination of several plot lines that would have served better as their own stand alone films. Sub Zero’s revenge plot, the tournament plot and the Shinnok’s amulet plot all could have made great films but they were instead crammed into one story and did not work. This however seemed out of the hands of the animators who seemed to have been told this would have been the final film possibly. The decisions of characters such as Raiden and Shinnok are so hilarious that I almost checked to see if this was a comedy. This results in a terrible pacing for the film and overall the story is all over the place.

The Bottom Line:

(Fatality...to this movie franchise.)

This film is by far the worst thing I watched all year, aside from Wonder Woman 1984 but with this I was far more disappointed because while Wonder Woman may get a chance for a third crack at the big screen this may be the last of the animated movies in this style.

PROS:

.Yes pro players exist for this game and I can never hope to beat them in a game.

CONS:

.Sporadic tone

.Fights are way too fast.

.Characters are dumb or get little to no screen time.

#Mortal Kombat #Raiden #liu kang #Scorpion #sub zero #fighting #fighting games #mortal kombat battle of the realms #mortal kombat scorpion

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The Eternals: Let’s Talk about Phastos (Spoilers)

I am disappointed. Not in the movie. No, Chloe Zhao should hold her head up for crafting a flawed but still highly enjoyable movie. No, what I am disappointed in, is people. Much like Phastos played by Brian Tyree Henry, I sometimes feel myself losing faith in people. But we will get to him in a second. Let me explain why I feel the way I do.

Call me a SJW or Woke, fine, I think those terms are tossed around and misused anytime someone tries to do something different. This film has been reviewed so poorly by critics that I was shocked. 48% on Rotten Tomatoes? That is the worst any MCU film has been rated. That means it is worse than Captain Marvel! Worse than Captain “I have no personality” Marvel. But I still got my money and paid to watch it at the Drive-In with a friend. I remember saying to him, “How is this rated badly?” and he said, “People.”. People, that’s it. People see the need to push back against any and everything without having an unbiased view.

(Another review bomb huh?)

Phastos in the film is a gay man with a family. A black, gay man with a family who shares a brief kiss with his husband before going to try and save the world he gave up on, to ensure the people he loves are safe. The backlash for a gay superhero on screen is something to behold and people stated they would boycott the film over that kiss or an openly gay man on screen.

People are blaming the film’s poor score on that and are proud to see it failing because of it, if that is the case. “Take that LGBT...” wait no, “Take that alphabet community! Ha you will never learn!”. How dare a filmmaker in a movie show anything that is outside our norm? It is almost like films are supposed to just be what we want and nothing else.

So let’s go to reality. Now imagine this; a gay man enlists to fight in a war to keep his family safe. Someone says, “You’re gay? Get out of here!”. No question about his motivations, skill set, beliefs and what he can bring to the fight. No LGBT people allowed, is all there is to it,is what it seems.

(Phastos is by far the most inventive and intelligent Eternal...who’s gay.)

The reality of this is that, it is not woke, not sjw, not a propaganda piece. It is instead a REAL and TRUE message, that LGBT people do go to war, much like Phastos to protect people they care for. What is even more fascinating is that his sexuality is not his entire character. Far from. Phastos is not a stereotype or caricature.

It is not a crutch that he is balanced upon. As a black man I was happy to see another black man being the intelligent, inventive and nurturing type who could still fight when needed.  And when I say he can fight, he can fight, it may not be like Thena or Ikaris but he holds his own quite well when that time comes.

(”A happy child and a gay father!!! Impossible!!!” - Some critic)

For some reason we live in a world that thinks that you should only show the traditional nuclear family or at least make sure any romance on screen is one between a biological man and biological woman. Anything else is forcing a message down our throat and it’s an effect of going woke. It’s pandering! So much so that a brief kiss and an exchange of words has people up in arms.

Now for those who take umbrage with the character because he is not comic book accurate, I understand and can see where that would tick anyone off. To that I have no rebuttal beyond it being an adaptation and that comics have multiple variations of characters such as a gay wolverine in one timeline. That is not an excuse on my part to quell, any rage you feel just an example of interpretations of a one character differing.

(Bryan Tyree Henry did a fantastic job in the adaptation.)

I have seen the Phastos in the comics and he is very much the genius as well as inventor but unlike the one in the film he is much more physically imposing. He is also very much straight in the comics. There are other differences such as the comic version having access to far more powers such as flight but the film version seemed to attempt to make each Eternal seem unique in their skillsets.

But the core differences to Comic and Film Phastos is that one is more muscular and straight and the other is not muscular and is gay. Both are still intelligent, inventive individuals intent in their pursuit for creating something amazing for those around them.

(Looking at some of the comments in disbelief.)

Phastos in the film is by far the smartest Eternal which if I was a black parent I would be proud to show my child. He is a clearly a good father with no example of abuse to his partner or his child, having them in what seems like a middle to upper middle class neighborhood.

He is simply, gay. Gay people exist. Not thanks to the media, not thanks to a hollywood agenda. Gay people have existed for centuries. One critic stated, “They already got you but now they are coming for us!” as if Wesley Snipes did not portray a Drag Queen in a movie when I was but a wee baby.

(This scene cut so deeply.)

So my question is then, is it that people are angered by the inclusion of a gay man or having to contend with confronting that inclusion? Having to see something they have been fed is negative can in fact be positive. Are they angered that it is a reserved portrayal so that he appears as a gay man who is not characterized by that.

Do such people want only straight people on tv, especially when it is a black man? Then my question is who is in the fantasy world? The characters or the people living in the bubble that says any representation of LGBT is bad?

#phastos #marvel #Marvel Comics #marvel cinematic universe #the eternals #honest #ikaris #bryan tyree henry #chloe zhao

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The Eternals - An honest and Unbiased Review

Let me preface this by saying a few things. I am a huge comic book fan but despite that can not say The Eternals was ever a series that was on my radar. So my knowledge of the characters is minimal. I however saw the trailers and was immediately excited, telling a close friend, “I have to watch this!” to which he replied, “We have not even watched Shang Chi yet!”.

Finally before I get to my thoughts on the film, I have seen the mixed reviews of the film which has prompted me to not just create this post but return to blogging. You will see why in future posts.

Let’s get to the review!

Simply put, I enjoyed this movie but that is not enough to validate you watching it or forming an opinion on it from this article. So let me break it down.

The Characters:

(Everyone does a decent to good job in their roles.)

The movie has a sprawling cast of characters who are all rather unique in their appearances, personalities and powers. So pretty much like a super team! But what makes the Eternals stand out is that unlike most origin movies, this team starts out like just that, a team. They have spent centuries together and for the most part are such a family that when a possible tragedy befalls them, they come back together like any family would.

All the actors for the Eternals do good to great jobs with my favorites being the speedster Makkari, the Bulwark that is Gilgamesh and the goddess of war, Thena. The latter two had an amazing subplot that makes you question just what will happen with Thena especially. The film does not show a team coming together for the first time, but a team coming together and seeing if they can overcome their personal issues with themselves or each other. Phastos and Sprite had their own smaller stories that were tragic, showing why they did certain things for the people they loved.

Did all the characters get totally fleshed out? No! Did you get to see a side of them that tells you something about them and that you can understand their motivations? Yes! Every Eternal is given a reason for why they do what they do.

The Powers:

(Makkari races away with how many scenes she steals in the movie.)

This movie had a more muted approach to certain character types. We are accustomed to the big brute of the group running rampant and having bombastic displays of his or her power but that was not the case in the film. The standouts for power displays were Makkari and Sersi for me. We have all seen the badass warrior woman archetype that is Thena and she does it well in the film. We have seen the superman type that is Ikaris who, while I enjoyed, did not break the mold with anything new but he did it better than you would think. Gilgamesh perhaps was the weakest for me in terms of his powers on display because he as the powerhouse of the group did not really get a chance to truly show it in a grand ‘THIS IS MY MOMENT’ scene.

Makkari however, stole the show. Everytime she used her power was just fantastic. In the final battle she was easily the MVP for just how she used her speed which was not another slow time down moment. No, she went in the other direction of, “I’m fast as ****boy!”. Sersi on the other hand was different. Her powers were akin to Thanos (in Infinity War), Dr.Strange or Scarlet Witch but there are moments where you just have to pause and realize what she just did on screen such as literally transmuting something living into a tree. Sure it is not EXPLOSIONS! but that was fine for me.

The Story:

(This scene above has so much depth to it, brief as it was.)

“Oh no a museum!” My friend said when we are brought to the present day of the first act. I laughed at that because he was calling back to our time watching Wonder Woman 1984 which was to put nicely, not a great time. I have seen several reviews saying the story is slow paced and boring or they did not like the flashbacks or  the history lessons. I can not understand this.

The movie indeed jumps through time, showing you the Eternals’ Influence on the world and how it was shaped by them through the ages. Just look at the names and you will see the influences, such as Ikaris being the inspiration for the story of Icarus and Thena being the inspiration for Athena. It is a nice pseudo history lesson, that does not beat you over the head but does a good job of informing you of what these characters were up to as they spend centuries on the planet.

However! The film is not a straight laced, predictable romp. For me at least. No it has twists and some are gut wrenching. It gets quite dark in spots and while there is humor it is quite restrained and does not detract from those serious moments. You can say the entire last act is void of comedy save for a great moment between Druig, Sprite and a rock. There is more I want to say but I will leave that for other articles. The story is a great origin story in my opinion and while it has plot holes in certain spots it is by far an easy to understand tale.

The Cinematography and CG:

(Gorgeous cinematography is abundant in this film)

Apparently this movie is being lambasted for its CG and it is odd because the CG in this film are some of the better offerings from the MCU. The powers, outfits and sets all look very real. The Celestials are shown in such grand scale you can only sit in silence as they speak. Makkari’s display of her powers is downright some of the best CG I have seen but it is Phastos and his constructs that are a feast for the eyes.

(You wanna hold these planet sized hands? Square up!)

The film visits numerous settings which I will not spoil but they are all gorgeous to behold with CG locations looking quite realistic. The one scene that may be jarring is when Sersi has the truth revealed to her. But seriously, there is a scene where Ikaris and Sersi embrace that is breathtaking thanks to the backdrop! One spoiler here to drive the point across. They show the Hanging Gardens of Babylon and all I could think was, this is is amazing!

The Villains:

(The villain is there somewhere...squint!)

It’s sort of like the Kree and the Skrulls in Captain Marvel! But here there are really no clear cut villains in the movie because as it carries on to the third act you see a revenge story, that can be totally understood. Seriously once things are revealed you understand that much like the Eternals and Jon Snow, that you know nothing. That said the Deviants are perhaps the weakest part of the film for me. The main one, Kro does not have much speaking scenes and even when he shows up for the final battle, he does not have that aura too him like you expect of a villain out for revenge. Is he a threat? Oh most definitely as the film demonstrates quite a bit. You even get scared when he gets his hand on several of the Eternals in the final act but even so he joins the list of ‘meh’ marvel villains. The villains in this movie are simply there to pose a threat and get in the way of the Eternals, nothing more.

The bottom line:

Director Chloe Zhao and her crew need to take a bow despite what the ‘critics’ and others are saying, this movie was a well done movie and something I will gladly watch again or add to my movie library. It has flaws but it has strengths. If you come into this film wanting high octane action like say Endgame’s final battle or even the Avengers first outing’s final action piece you will be disappointed. But that is not what the movie is going for. It feels like Zhao held her cards close to her chest and did not want to reveal just how powerful these characters could be just yet. This makes me hope and pray that this movie not only gets a sequel but that the characters get a chance to interact with the larger MCU as they all deserve it. This movie is an easy recommendation for those looking for a more thoughtful and controlled superhero experience, focusing on the story instead of spectacle.

PROS:

.Great cast.

.Good story.

.Great cinematography.

.Decent to good fight scenes.

CONS:

.Some characters do not get enough screen time.

.Weak ‘villain’ presence.

#the eternals #Marvel Comics #marvel #marvel cinematic universe #mcu #chloe zhao #review #honest #honest review #ikaris #makkari #gilgamesh #thenativeshour #kingo #druig oneshot #sprite #the celestials

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Wonder Woman 1984 has shown its first trailer and the Gal Gadot helmed movie is looking noticeably bright and light hearted. Some elements also make their debut such as Diana’s throwable tiara, her amazing running speed, new uses for her lasso and golden armor.

Also Chris Pine makes his return as Steve Trevor, who had a seemingly severe case of blown up in the first film, while we see the debut of two new characters who I will not spoil. There is a great shot of the Amazons running in what seems like a contest or rite of passage so it is safe to say we are returning to Themsycira at some point in the film.

Are you ready for the film? Is DC finally catching their stride by not making everything Gotham Dark but instead letting each hero just be more like comic book counterparts?

The film is set for June, 5th, 2020 so get excited!

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#DC comics #DC Universe #dceu rp #action #live action #Wonder Woman #wonderwoman #Gal Gadot #chris pine #steve trevor #Amazon #themyscira #amazons of themyscira #1984 #wonder woman 1984

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Screen Shots Gallery 2 for Mulan Live Action film coming in 2020.

Like, Follow and Reblog for more! :)

#mulan #mulan 1998 #mulan2020 #donnie yen #disney #liu yifei

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Screenshot gallery 1 of the Mulan Live Action movie coming in 2020!

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#Mulan #mulan2020 #disney #donnie yen #action #live action

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Black Widow is finally getting that long awaited solo movie treatment in her 2020 eponymous super hero film. Having last seen the heroine in Endgame, this outing will see her exploits sometime after Captain America: Civil War and Avengers: Infinity War with her on the run after betraying Tony Stark aka Iron Man in order to ensure Captain America and Bucky’s escape after the chaotic airport battle.

With this in mind it may be safe to say she will have very little aid from the Avengers this time around and thus has to look elsewhere in the form of Alexei Shostakov also known as Red Guardian  (Played by David Harbour) and two other Black Widow operatives, Melina (Played by Rachel Weisz) and Yelena Belova also know as Crimson Widow (Played by Florence Pugh). That is not to say there will not be appearances of recognizable faces but the question is in what capacity will be they be featured in the film.

The film looks set to release on May, 1st, 2020 and personally seems to shaping into an exciting spy thriller in the vein of Jason Bourne. Wonder if we will see good old Jeremy Renner.

Like, Reblog and Follow for more. :)

#Marvel Comics #marvel #Marvel Civil War #jeremy renner #red guardian #alexei shostakov #avengers #the avengers #david harbour #rachel weisz #melina #crimson widow #yelena belova #florence pugh #black widow #captain america #disney

[thatdarnblogagain]

Black Widow is finally getting that long awaited solo movie treatment in her 2020 eponymous super hero film. Having last seen the heroine in Endgame, this outing will see her exploits sometime after Captain America: Civil War and Avengers: Infinity War with her on the run after betraying Tony Stark aka Iron Man in order to ensure Captain America and Bucky’s escape after the chaotic airport battle.

With this in mind it may be safe to say she will have very little aid from the Avengers this time around and thus has to look elsewhere in the form of Alexei Shostakov also known as Red Guardian  (Played by David Harbour) and two other Black Widow operatives, Melina (Played by Rachel Weisz) and Yelena Belova also know as Crimson Widow (Played by Florence Pugh). That is not to say there will not be appearances of recognizable faces but the question is in what capacity will be they be featured in the film.

The film looks set to release on May, 1st, 2020 and personally seems to shaping into an exciting spy thriller in the vein of Jason Bourne. Wonder if we will see good old Jeremy Renner.

Like, Reblog and Follow for more. :)

#black widow #yelena belova #crimson widow #rachel weisz #david harbour #melina #alexei shostakov #red guardian #avengers #avengers infinity war #infiniy war #captain america #civil war #bucky #florence pugh #iron man #tony stark #rdjgifsdaily #robert downey jr #marvel #marvel comics #marvel movies #walt disney

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“I’ll make a man out of you!” The Mulan live action film looks to be continuing the trend of Disney returning to their classics to add new elements or in the case of this new film, removing some of the old elements. There is no Mushu, the guardian dragon which was voiced by Eddie Murphy in the 1998 animated version of the film. There also seems to be an absence of animated heart throb, Captain Li Shang, or the comedy relief trio of Yao, Ling and Chieng-Po.

This new film seems to be looking to be a more serious telling of the Mulan lore. There is a magical aspect to it however as we see men running up walls, a witch with the ability to transform into an eagle and even the phoenix appearing. Needless to say it is still looking very much like a fantastical story steeped in Asian influences.

The film will feature the talents of Liu Yifei as Mulan, Donnie Yen as Commander Tung - a casting choice that further lends to this film possibly having amazing fight scenes- and Jason Scott Lee as the Hun Warrior and villain, Bori Khan. The film is set for release on March, 27 in 2020 so get those calendars out and mark the date!

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#mulan #disney #walt disney #action #live action #movie #trailer #mulan 1998 #mulan 2020 #donnie yen #liu yifei #jason scott lee #eddie murphy #yao #ling #chieng po #bori khan